Current Population Estimates, Malaysia, 2017-2018

The publication Current Population Estimates, Malaysia, 2018 presents mid-year population estimates for the period of 2017 and 2018 as well as principal statistics of population based on the Population and Housing Census 2010 (Census 2010) data, that has taken into account three major components of population change i.e. births, deaths and net migration.

POPULATION SIZE AND GROWTH

The estimated population of Malaysia in 2018 is 32.4 million as compared to 32.0 million in 2017 with an annual population growth rate of 1.1 per cent.

The male population in 2018 outnumber the females with 16.7 million (male) and 15.7 million (female). The sex ratio in 2018 remains at 107 males per 100 females.

AGE STRUCTURE

Percentage of population aged below 14 years old (young age) in 2018 decreases from 24.1 per cent in 2017 to 23.8 per cent. On the other hand, population aged 15–64 years old (working age) increases from 69.6 per cent in 2017 to 69.7 per cent in 2018. The percentage of 65 years and over (old age) population increases from 6.3 per cent to 6.5 per cent for the same period. The increase in the composition of working age population as well as old age population contribute to the increase in the median age in 2018, which stands at 28.6 years.

MAJOR ETHNIC GROUP COMPOSITION

Population of citizens in 2018 is 29.1 million. The composition of Bumiputera ethnic recordsan increase of 0.3 percentage points in 2018 as compared to 2017, which accounted for 69.1 per cent of total citizens. However, the composition of Chinese and Indians ethnics drop by 0.2 and 0.1 percentage points, respectively.